EP0874257B1 - Method for assembling a polymeric lightguide in a ferrule - Google Patents

Method for assembling a polymeric lightguide in a ferrule Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0874257B1
EP0874257B1 EP19980106018 EP98106018A EP0874257B1 EP 0874257 B1 EP0874257 B1 EP 0874257B1 EP 19980106018 EP19980106018 EP 19980106018 EP 98106018 A EP98106018 A EP 98106018A EP 0874257 B1 EP0874257 B1 EP 0874257B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector pin
lightguide
fiber
face
pin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19980106018
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0874257A1 (en
Inventor
Dietmar Dipl.-Kaufm. Harting
Erich Dipl.-Ing. Coors
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Harting Electric Stiftung and Co KG
Original Assignee
Harting Electric GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Harting Electric GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Harting Electric GmbH and Co KG
Publication of EP0874257A1 publication Critical patent/EP0874257A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0874257B1 publication Critical patent/EP0874257B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3863—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture fabricated by using polishing techniques
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/25—Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/241—Light guide terminations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
    • G02B6/3857—Crimping, i.e. involving plastic deformation

Definitions

  • the invention is based on the object of optical fibers in connector pins to produce high-quality end surfaces with short processing times
  • the plug pins 1 / ferrules 4 with the fiber optic polymer fibers 2 fixed therein are received in a tensioning device and held with respect to their mechanical reference plane 6.
  • This workpiece carrier By moving this workpiece carrier in a precision guide then takes place the mechanical processing of the fiber supernatant 8 by the rotating in the working plane 7 tool. (This plane thus becomes the later optical reference plane of the connector pin.)
  • Metallic connector pins 1 / ferrules 4 should preferably consist of easily machineable non-ferrous metal for this process.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Konfektionierung eines Polymer-Lichtwellenleiters mit einem Steckerstift.The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polymer optical waveguide with a pin.

Bei der Montage von Steckerstiften / Faserendhülsen an Lichtwellenleiter aus Polymer-Materialien kommen derzeit folgende Verfahren zur Bearbeitung der optisch wirksamen Faser-Endflächen zur Anwendung:

  • Nur Schneiden (mit Spezialklinge)
  • Schneiden + Auftragen einer "Index-Matching-Paste" zur Verbesserung des Lichtübertritts in ein vorgesetztes "optisches Fenster"
  • Schneiden + Anschmelzen des überstehenden Faserendes zur Erzeugung einer eingeebneten Endfläche ("hot plate"-Verfahren)
  • Faser mit Überstand montieren Endfläche auf Maß zurückschleifen und polieren.
When assembling plug pins / fiber end sleeves to optical fibers made of polymer materials, the following methods are currently used for processing the optically active fiber end faces:
  • Only cutting (with special blade)
  • Cutting + applying an "index matching paste" to improve the light passing into a superior "optical window"
  • Cutting + melting of the protruding fiber end to produce a flattened end surface ("hot plate" method)
  • Mount the fiber with the overhang. Sand the end surface back to size and polish.

Letzteres Verfahren ist von der Verarbeitung der (Quarz-) Glasfasern übernommen und liefert insgesamt gute und dämpfungsarme Faserendflächen für eine optische Steckverbindung.The latter method is taken over by the processing of the (quartz) glass fibers and provides overall good and low-loss fiber end surfaces for an optical connector.

Der für die Bearbeitung aufzuwendende Zeitaufwand steigt jedoch mehr als proportional zur gewünschten Qualität der Endfläche. In der Massenfertigung sind daher hochwertige Faserendflächen bisher kaum wirtschaftlich zu realisieren. However, the time required for processing increases more than proportional to the desired quality of the end face. In mass production Therefore, high-quality fiber end surfaces are hardly economically viable realize.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, an Lichtwellenleitern in Steckerstiften mit kurzen Bearbeitungszeiten hochwertige Endflächen zu erzeugenThe invention is based on the object of optical fibers in connector pins to produce high-quality end surfaces with short processing times

Diese Aufgabe wird dadurch gelöst, daß die Endflächenbearbeitung des Steckerstifts und des Faserendes durch zerspanendes Abtragen mittels eines mit hoher Geschwindigkeit umlaufenden, einschneidigen Werkzeuges gemeinsam erfolgt, wobei im Trockenschnitt sowohl die optisch wirksame Endfläche des Lichtwellenleiters erzeugt, als zugleich auch die Länge des Steckerstifts auf Fertigungsmaß bearbeitet wird.This object is achieved in that the end surface machining of the Connector pin and the fiber end by machining removal by means of a High-speed, single-edged tool takes place together, wherein in the dry section both the optically effective End surface of the optical waveguide generates, as well as the length of the Connector pin is processed on production scale.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen des Verfahrens sind in den Ansprüchen 2 bis 4 angegeben.Advantageous developments of the method are in the claims 2 to 4 specified.

Die mit der Erfindung erzielten Vorteile bestehen insbesondere darin, daß eine wirtschaftliche Erzeugung von hochwertigen Endflächen an Polymer-Lichtwellenleitern bei kurzen Taktzeiten (typ. ≤ 3 sec.) erreicht wird. Dabei wird im "Trockenschnitt" ohne zusätzliche Hilfsstoffe gearbeitet. Die erzeugten Faserendflächen sind frei von jeglicher Oberflächen-Kontamination. Die vom Ablängen der Fasern herrührenden Beschädigungen / Verschmutzungen des Faserendes werden vollständig entfernt.The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that An economical production of high-quality end surfaces on polymer optical waveguides at short cycle times (typically ≤ 3 sec.). there is worked in the "dry section" without additional auxiliaries. The generated Fiber endfaces are free from any surface contamination. The from the cutting of the fibers resulting damage / dirt of the fiber end are completely removed.

Dabei ist das Verfahren gut automatisierbar, und leicht in entsprechende Fertigungsabläufe einzubinden.
Ferner ist das Verfahren umweltfreundlich, und das durch Absaugung gesammelte geringe Spanvolumen ist problemlos zu entsorgen.The process is easy to automate, and easy to integrate into appropriate production processes.
Furthermore, the process is environmentally friendly, and the low chip volume collected by suction is easy to dispose of.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Verfahrens ist in der Zeichnung dargestellt und wird im folgenden näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Fig. 1
die Ansicht eines Steckerstifts mit einer spritzgegossenen Endhülse, und
Fig. 2
die Ansicht eines Steckerstifts in Form einer angecrimpten metallischen Endhülse.
An embodiment of the method is shown in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below. Show it
Fig. 1
the view of a connector pin with an injection-molded end sleeve, and
Fig. 2
the view of a pin in the form of a crimped metallic ferrule.

Zur Endflächenbearbeitung werden die Steckerstifte 1 / Faserendhülsen 4 mit den darin fixierten LWL-Polymerfasern 2 in einer Spannvorrichtung aufgenommen und in bezug auf ihre mechanische Referenzebene 6 gehalten. Durch Verschieben dieses Werkstückträgers in einer Präzisionsführung erfolgt dann die mechanische Bearbeitung des Faserüberstandes 8 durch das in der Bearbeitungsebene 7 umlaufende Werkzeug. (Diese Ebene wird damit zur späteren optischen Referenzebene des Steckerstiftes.)
Dabei wird das überstehende Faserende - zusammen mit dem Angußbereich 3 der Stiftspitze - durch die mit hoher Geschwindigkeit umlaufende Werkzeugschneide abgetragen, so daß zugleich mit der Endflächenbearbeitung der Faser auch eine Längen-Feinbearbeitung des Steckerstiftes 1 erfolgt. Metallische Steckerstifte 1 / Faserendhülsen 4 sollten für diesen Vorgang vorzugsweise aus gut zerspanbarem Buntmetall bestehen.
Als aktiv wirksames Schneidenmaterial kommt vorzugsweise Diamant zur Anwendung.
Bei Schnittgeschwindigkeiten im Bereich 30 - 50 m/s und angepaßter Vorschubgeschwindigkeit von ca. 3 mm/sec. ergibt sich eine hohe Oberflächengüte bei einer Bearbeitungszeit von nur 2 - 3 sec. Die erzeugte Faserendfläche hat eine geringe Restrauhigkeit von
   max. Rauhtiefe Rt = 0,5 - 1 µm
   Mittenrauhwert Ra < 0,1 µm
und weist eine hohe optische Transparenz auf.
Damit entspricht sie funktionell etwa der durch Schleifen und Polieren erreichbaren Oberflächenqualität - bei einer um etwa den Faktor 10 reduzierten Bearbeitungszeit.
Das Verfahren erlaubt somit die wirtschaftliche Erzeugung von optisch hochwertigen Endflächen an Polymer-Lichtwellenleitern.
Da es im "Trockenschnitt" arbeitet, sind die Faserendflächen frei von jeglicher Oberflächenkontamination. Die von den vorherigen Bearbeitungsvorgängen der Faser herrührenden Beschädigungen / Verschmutzungen des Faserendes werden vollständig entfernt.For end face machining, the plug pins 1 / ferrules 4 with the fiber optic polymer fibers 2 fixed therein are received in a tensioning device and held with respect to their mechanical reference plane 6. By moving this workpiece carrier in a precision guide then takes place the mechanical processing of the fiber supernatant 8 by the rotating in the working plane 7 tool. (This plane thus becomes the later optical reference plane of the connector pin.)
In this case, the protruding fiber end - removed together with the runner 3 of the pen tip - by rotating at high speed tool cutting edge, so that at the same time as the end face processing of the fiber, a length-fine machining of the connector pin 1. Metallic connector pins 1 / ferrules 4 should preferably consist of easily machineable non-ferrous metal for this process.
Diamond is preferably used as the active cutting material.
At cutting speeds in the range 30-50 m / s and adapted feed rate of about 3 mm / sec. results in a high surface quality at a processing time of only 2-3 sec. The fiber end surface produced has a low residual roughness of
Max. Roughness R t = 0.5 - 1 μm
Average roughness R a <0.1 μm
and has a high optical transparency.
This functionally corresponds to the surface quality achievable by grinding and polishing - with a processing time reduced by a factor of about 10.
The method thus allows the economical production of optically high-quality end surfaces on polymer optical waveguides.
As it works in the "dry cut", the fiber end faces are free from any surface contamination. The resulting from the previous operations of the fiber damage / contamination of the fiber end are completely removed.

Claims (9)

  1. A device for assembling a polymeric lightguide with a connector pin,
    characterized in that
    the end face treatment of the connector pin (1) and of the fiber end are carried out simultaneously in the form of a material removal process with a single-edged tool that revolves with a high speed, wherein the optically effective end face of the lightguide is produced and the length of the connector pin is simultaneously processed to the specified final dimensions by means of a dry-cutting process.
  2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that
    the connector pin (1) is manufactured by injection-molding a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the lightguide is fixed thereon in the form of an insert by directly injection-molding around the lightguide.
  3. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connector pin (1) consists of a metallic material and is connected to the lightguide in a strain-proof fashion by means of crimping, wherein the following processing steps are carried out:
    a) stepping the fiber sheath,
    b) pushing the connector pin (1) / the ferrule (4) on the lightguide until the fiber end slightly protrudes from the end face of the connector pin,
    c) crimping the connector pin to the lightguide, wherein the connector pin is mechanically fixed on the sheath and/or directly on the fiber,
    d) compressing the fiber guide bore to the actual fiber diameter in the region of the pin point, wherein
    aa) the fiber is re-centered and
    bb) the fiber end is fixed in a vibration-free fashion for the subsequent end face treatment, and
    e) processing the fiber end and the (slight) oversize of the connector pin to the final longitudinal dimensions.
  4. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a work piece carrier is provided with a clamping device for the connector pin (1) in order to process the end face of the connector pin together with the lightguide, namely by means of a single-edged tool that revolves with a high speed.
  5. The method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the tool for the end face treatment comprises two cutting edges, one of which functions as a rough cutter.
  6. The method according to Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the cutting material of the tool consists of diamond.
  7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the connector pin (1) consists of a metallic material and is connected to the lightguide (2), wherein the optically effective end face of the lightguide as well as the end face of the connector pin are produced by material removal in the processing plane (7).
  8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the connector pin (1) consists of a non-ferrous metal.
  9. The method according to least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the optically effective end face of the lightguide (2) has a maximum depth of roughness Rt between 0.5 and 1 µm and an average surface roughness Ra of less than 0.1 µm.
EP19980106018 1997-04-21 1998-04-02 Method for assembling a polymeric lightguide in a ferrule Expired - Lifetime EP0874257B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1997116638 DE19716638C1 (en) 1997-04-21 1997-04-21 Optical fibre cable manufacture incorporating plug
DE19716638 1997-04-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0874257A1 EP0874257A1 (en) 1998-10-28
EP0874257B1 true EP0874257B1 (en) 2005-09-28

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ID=7827174

Family Applications (1)

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EP19980106018 Expired - Lifetime EP0874257B1 (en) 1997-04-21 1998-04-02 Method for assembling a polymeric lightguide in a ferrule

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0874257B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3167675B2 (en)
DE (2) DE19716638C1 (en)
ES (1) ES2249809T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1037077A3 (en) * 1999-03-18 2003-04-02 Schleuniger Holding AG Method and device for the fabrication of waveguide ends
DE19923416C2 (en) * 1999-05-21 2002-01-17 Tyco Electronics Logistics Ag Ferrule for an optical waveguide, method for producing such a ferrule and method for fastening a ferrule to an optical waveguide
DK1291687T3 (en) * 2001-09-07 2011-09-12 Nhk Sales Company Ltd Process for the end surface treatment of a fiber
DE10321137B4 (en) * 2003-05-09 2010-03-11 Molex Inc., Lisle Method for producing an arrangement of a waveguide section and a component

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3118489A1 (en) * 1981-05-09 1982-11-25 Bunker Ramo Corp., 60521 Oak Brook, Ill. CONNECTOR FOR LIGHTWAVE GUIDE
DE3119232C2 (en) * 1981-05-14 1985-11-28 Spinner GmbH Elektrotechnische Fabrik, 8000 München Auxiliary device for the central arrangement of an optical fiber in a plug housing insert socket
JPS58149012A (en) * 1982-03-01 1983-09-05 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd Method for holding optical fiber in plug and said plug and working jig
JPH01254902A (en) * 1988-04-05 1989-10-11 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Device for treating end face of optical fiber with mouthpiece
JPH07151280A (en) * 1993-12-01 1995-06-13 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The Terminal part of plastic tube having filament body
JPH07218731A (en) * 1994-02-07 1995-08-18 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd End face treatment and end face treatment device for plastic optical fiber
JPH08122596A (en) * 1994-10-28 1996-05-17 Sharp Corp Optical fiber cable with ferrule and its end face working method
JP3018926B2 (en) * 1994-11-10 2000-03-13 住友電装株式会社 Fiber optic cutter
US5621836A (en) * 1994-11-28 1997-04-15 Methode Electronics, Inc. Plastic fiber alignment ferrule and termination method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3167675B2 (en) 2001-05-21
DE59813074D1 (en) 2006-02-09
EP0874257A1 (en) 1998-10-28
JPH10300981A (en) 1998-11-13
DE19716638C1 (en) 1998-08-27
ES2249809T3 (en) 2006-04-01

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